Midwestern State vs. Eastern New Mexico
Saturday, Sept. 19, 2015 | 11:30 a.m.
AT&T  Stadium | Arlington, Texas
Records: Midwestern State (2-0, 0-0); Eastern New Mexico (2-0, 0-0)
Video: None
Audio: Mustangs Digital Network (Free)  
Live Stats: LoneStarConference.org  

ON THE FIELD
Midwestern State and Eastern New Mexico square off as two of the three remaining unbeaten teams in the Lone Star Conference Saturday morning at AT&T Stadium in Arlington. The game also serves as the opener for the Lone Star Football Festival which also includes Tarleton State and West Texas A&M at 3:30 p.m.  and Angelo State against Bacone at 7:30 p.m.

SCOUTING THE GREYHOUNDS
- Eastern New Mexico is one of three unbeaten teams remaining in the Lone Star Conference claiming.
- The Greyhounds claimed wins over Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference foes New Mexico Highlands (40-10) and Adams State (44-30).
- Eastern ranks 19th nationally and third in the LSC scoring 42 points per game.
- ENMU boasts the No. 3 rushing offense in NCAA Division II churning out 362.5 yards per game led by sophomore Kamal Cass (94.5 ypg) and junior D'Maujeric Tucker (78.0 ypg).
- Seven different rushers have carried the ball at least nine times in the last two games for the Greyhounds and six different players recorded touchdowns on the ground.
- The 'Hounds don't throw it often -- just 24 times in the first two weeks -- but rank second in the nation averaging 29.9 yards on seven completions with two touchdowns.
- ENMU yields 427.5 yards per game on defense including 263 yards per game through the air and 164.5 yards on the ground.
- Fourth-year head coach Josh Lynn led ENMU to an LSC title in 2013 and is 19-14 during his tenure in Portales.

ABOUT THE SERIES
- Midwestern State meets Eastern New Mexico for the 21st time on the gridiron Saturday morning at AT&T Stadium.
- The Mustangs own a 15-5 edge in the series which dates back to the 1949 season.
- MSU has won 12 of the last 13 meetings with the Greyhounds' lone victory coming 40-21 on Nov. 9, 2013 at Blackwater Draw.
- The Mustangs and Greyhounds have played each year since 1997.
- The teams have scored a combined 60 points nine times in 18 meetings since 1997 with an average of 59.6 total points scored each game since 1997.
- This is the second straight year the teams meet at the Lone Star Football Festival with the Mustangs rolling to a 42-17 win last season at AT&T Stadium.
- Last season's meeting was the first at a neutral site between the Mustangs and Greyhounds.

ABOUT COACH MASKILL
- Bill Maskill is in his 16th season as a head coach and 14th campaign at Midwestern State.
- Maskill has led the Mustangs to winning ledgers in each of his years at the helm of the program including the school's first Lone Star Conference championship in 2009 and first undefeated regular season in 2011.
- Under Maskill's guidance, MSU has advanced to the NCAA Division II postseason in the 2004, 2006, 2009, 2011 and 2012 seasons while amassing an 102-41 record (.713).  He was named LSC Coach of the Year in 2009, 2011 and 2012, and was the AFCA Regional Coach of the Year in 2011.
- In all, Maskill has coached 16 All-Americans (to some 54 mentions), 59 all-region selections and 67 All-Lone Star Conference first teamers in his 13 seasons in Wichita Falls.
- Maskill is starting his 47th year as a football coach. His coaching experience includes stops as a Division I assistant at Vanderbilt (twice), Southern Methodist, Wake Forest, Oregon, Tulane, Louisville, Arizona State, Bowling Green and Iowa.
- Maskill has a 116-49 overall record (.703) and led Southeast Missouri State to a 1988 MIAA co-championship.

MSU IN THE LONE STAR FOOTBALL FESTIVAL
- Midwestern State is an overall 3-1 at the Lone Star Football Festival taking wins over Texas A&M-Commerce in 2011 and 2012 and Eastern New Mexico in 2014.
- The Mustangs have lit up the AT&T Stadium scoreboard for 48.5 points while rolling up 479.5 yards of total offense per game.
- This marks the first time since 2011 that MSU is not nationally ranked heading into festival play.  (RV/2011, 16th/2012, 13th/2013, 23rd/2014).

A LAST LOOK BACK
- Midwestern State moved to 2-0 for the second straight year and for the eighth time in the last 10 with a 16-13 overtime win at Colorado Mesa.
- The overtime win was the first since MSU took down No. 22-ranked Texas A&M-Commerce 40-37 on Nov. 1, 2014 at Memorial Stadium in Wichita Falls.
- The Mustangs improved to 3-1 in overtime games winning each of their three regular season games requiring extra periods against Incarnate Word (10/2/10) and Texas A&M-Commerce (11/1/14).
- The win was the fourth straight against an RMAC opponent as MSU improved to 5-4 all time against the league's current membership.
- The Mustangs never trailed in the game and haven't had any time this season.
- Midwestern failed to account for an offensive touchdown for just the fifth time in the Maskill era and first time since claiming a 7-3 win at Northeastern State on Sept. 13, 2008.
- The win was MSU's 18th straight over a non-LSC foe - a streak which dates back to 2003.

PUTTING IT IN NEUTRAL
- Midwestern State has played in neutral site games in each of the last five seasons including four appearances at AT&T Stadium and another at the Kanza Bowl in Topeka, Kan.

MSU  TOPS LSC IN NEW MILLENIUM
- Midwestern State has blazed its way to the top of the Lone Star Conference as one of the most steady programs in all of NCAA Division II.
- The Mustangs have averaged more than seven wins a season since the start of the 2000 season and overtook Tarleton State to become the league's winning percentage leader over the last decade after defeating Southwestern Oklahoma 46-9 on Sep. 18, 2010.

MSU RECEIVING VOTES IN AFCA POLL
- Midwestern State received 25 more votes this week in the AFCA Top 25.
- The Mustangs have received mention in at least one poll in each season dating back to 2006.
- The Mustangs received a vote on at least one ballot in 105 of 107 reporting periods dating from the 2006 season to the end of the 2014 campaign including 47 straight periods from 2011-14.
- MSU is one of 14 teams from Super Region Four to receive mention in the poll joining No. 5 Ferris State (Mich.), No. 8 Angelo State, No. 13 Colorado State-Pueblo, No. 14 Grand Valley State (Mich.), No. 15 Colorado Mines, No. 17 Ohio Dominican, No. 19 Ashland (Ohio) and No. 22 Texas A&M-Commerce while Michigan Tech, West Texas A&M, Findlay (Ohio), Indianapolis (Ind.) and Tiffin (Ohio) are also receiving votes.
- The Mustangs spent four weeks in the Top 25 in 2014 topping out at No. 16 on Sept. 29.

MAROON SEPTEMBER
- MSU stands at 46-9 (.836) in games played before Oct. 1 in the Bill Maskill era.
- Since 2006, Midwestern stands an outstanding 35-3 to start the season.  All three September losses have been by three points, a 20-17 decision at Angelo State on Sept. 26, 2009, a 20-17 loss at Tarleton State on Sept. 8, 2012, and the 27-24 loss to Tarleton on Sept. 14, 2013.

MSU AMONG GRIDIRON ELITE
- Midwestern State is one of just two Texas four-year football playing institutions actively sporting 15 straight winning seasons.
- The Mustangs are the only scholarship-granting program in the State of Texas with a current string of 15 consecutive winning seasons.
- NCAA D3 power Mary Hardin Baylor also sports 15 consecutive seasons.
- Hardin-Simmons (NCAA D3) had 22-straight winning seasons before suffering a 4-6 year in 2013.
- Mary Hardin Baylor (2-0) takes on Wisconsin-LaCrosse on Sept. 19 in Belton.

OFFENSE TEAM NOTES
- MSU failed to account for an offensive touchdown for just the fifth time in the Bill Maskill era (since 2002) including the 2008 game against Northeastern State (W. 7-3), in the 2006 playoffs against Northwest Missouri State (L, 27-0) and twice in the 2004 season (Tarleton State (L, 19-3) and Texas A&M-Kingsville (L, 27-3)).
- It was the first time MSU failed to account for a rushing touchdown since falling 27-24 to Tarleton State in the 2013 season opener at AT&T Stadium.
- The Mustangs have rushed for fewer than 200 yards in wins over Truman State and Colorado Mesa this season. MSU has not been limited to fewer than 200 rushing yards in three consecutive games since the 2010 went six games without accomplishing the feat from Oct. 2-Nov. 6.
- MSU has scored on 8-of-10 trips to the Red Zone including touchdowns on four of those possessions.
- Midwestern's play call tendancies are 60.8 percent run and 30.2 percent passing.
- The passing game has produced 53.5 percent of MSU's offensive production.

DEFENSE TEAM NOTES
- Midwestern State boasts one of the top defensive units in all of NCAA Division II ranking eighth nationally in scoring defense (8.0 ppg) and 26th in total defense (266.5 ypg).
- MSU tops the Lone Star Conference in scoring defense (8.0), total defense (266.5 ypg), passing yards allowed (103.0 ypg) and pass efficiency defense (75.60).
- The Mustangs have forced six turnovers (3 fumble recoveries, 3 interceptions) which have netted just 14 points as MSU has turned just two of them into points.
- Midwestern has not allowed an opponent to throw for more than 200 yards this season. The last time the Mustangs limited three consecutive opponents to less than 200 yards was last season against Eastern New Mexico (122), Tarleton State (199) and Angelo State (169).
- Colorado Mesa needed 91 plays to account for 362 yards of total offense -- 4.0 yards per play.

SPECIAL TEAMS NOTES
- Midwestern State ranks second in NCAA Division II with two blocked punts over the first two weeks of the season.
- Junior defensive end Kerry Holiday was credited with a block against Truman State (9/5) while junior defensive lineman Robert Kitchen got on at Colorado Mesa (9/12).
- Only Elizabeth City State has blocked more punts with three.
- Senior safety Tari Jones accounted for MSU's lone touchdown at Colorado Mesa on Sept. 12 scooping a fumbled punt snap and racing 30 yards for a TD. It was MSU's first fumble returned for a touchdown since Taiyon Jackson returned on 90 yards for a score at Angelo State on Oct. 26, 2013.

INJURY BUG BITES IN WEEK 2
- Three offensive linemen including starters Alfredo Moreno (LT) and Joel Onyia (RG) and key reserve Will Fukofuka sat out MSU's 16-13 win at Colorado Mesa.
- Redshirt freshmen A.J. Roland (C) and Kevin Fisher (LT) made their first collegiate starts while junior Akoakoa Paleka-Kennedy (C) shifted to right guard.
- Senior running back Dante Taylor also did not travel due to injury.

HAGEN'S HEROES
- Sophomore quarterback Hagen Hutchinson made his first collegiate start in a season opening 31-3 win over Truman State.
- Hutchinson's first pass of the season went for a 12-yard touchdown to Arsenio Phillips.
- Hutchinson passed for a career-high 183 yards on 18-of-26 passing against Truman State.
- Hutchinson was picked off twice in MSU's 16-13 win at Colorado Mesa.
- Hutchinson ranks fifth in the Lone Star Conference with a 120.5 pass efficiency rating completing 59.5 percent of his passes (25-42) for 274 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions.

QB QUADE
- Sophomore quarterback Hagen Hutchinson made his first collegiate start in a season opening 31-3 win over Truman State.
- Hutchinson's first pass of the season went for a 12-yard touchdown to Arsenio Phillips.
- Hutchinson passed for a career-high 183 yards on 18-of-26 passing against Truman State.
- Hutchinson was picked off twice in MSU's 16-13 win at C- Junior Quade Coward came on to lead Midwestern State to a 16-13 overtime win at Colorado Mesa on Sept. 12.
- Provided a spark with MSU's longest play from scrimmage against Colorado Mesa -- a 37-yard run in the third quarter.
- Completed 6-of-9 passes for 60 yards including two hookups with senior tight end Derek Lockhart to key MSU's go-ahead drive late in the fourth quarter.
- Has appeared in 13 games making one start against Texas A&M-Commerce in 2014.
- Hutchinson ranks fifth in the Lone Star Conference with a 120.5 pass efficiency rating completing 59.5 percent of his passes (25-42) for 274 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions.

DANTE'S INFERNO
- Junior running back Dante Taylor ran for 41 yards on 14 carries in the season opener before going down with an injury in the season opener against Truman State on Sept. 5.
- Taylor did not travel to Colorado Mesa on Sept. 12.
- Taylor became the 18th rusher in program history to account for 1,000 career yards last season.
- Taylor ranks 17th on MSU's all time rushing list with 1,270 yards.
- Taylor has accounted for seven career 100-yard rushing games including a career-best 159 against Angelo State (10/4/14).

THAT'S MY VJ
- True freshman Vincent Johnson (Lubbock Monterey HS) leads MSU in rushing with 83 yards on 18 carries through his first two collegiate games.
- Johnson ran for 49 yards on 10 carries in his collegiate debut against Truman State on Sept. 5.
- Johnson ran for 34 yards on eight carries in his first collegiate start at Colorado Mesa on Sept. 12.

THE STATRON STATEMENT
- Junior wide receiver Statron Jones continues to make the climb up MSU's all-time touchdown reception list making his ninth TD catch in the season opener against Truman State -- to rank 9th.
- With his next TD reception, Jones will match Quinton Snell (1989-91) and Michael McDonald (1993-95) for 7th on the list with 10.
- Jones needs 242 receiving yards to move past Darrius Richard (1,067 yards/2003-06) into 10th on MSU's all-time receiving yards list.
- Jones made a season-high seven catches for 86 yards against Truman State (9/5).

CHRISTIAN IS THE QUI
- Midwestern State senior safety Marqui Christian earned Lone Star Conference Defensive Player of the Week honors after making a team-high 11 tackles against Truman State on Sept. 5.
- Christian has recorded at least 10 tackles in 12 games during his career-high including a high of 18 against Eastern New Mexico in the Lone Star Football Festival on Oct. 20, 2014.
- Christian moved into 10th place on MSU's all-time tackles list with 220 when he made nine tackles with a sack and forced fumble on Sept. 12 at Colorado Mesa.
- Christian needs 12 tackles to move past Matt Ellerbrock (231/2009-12) into ninth on the chart.

LAUDERMILK AT LINEBACKER
- Senior Mike Linebacker Daniel Laudermilk erupted for career highs of 18 tackles and 2.5 stops for loss in MSU's 16-13 overtime win at Colorado Mesa on Sept. 12.
- Laudermilk needs 48 tackles to leap onto MSU's all-time tackles list.
- Laudermilk has made 10-or-more tackles six times in his career.

ROUSTING ROUSE
- Senior cornerback Dominique Rouse snagged his second interception as a Mustang to halt Colorado Mesa's overtime drive on Sept. 12 in Grand Junction and also recovered a fumble.
- Rouse returned his first pick 55 yards for a touchdown in MSU's 42-17 win over Eastern New Mexico last season in the Lone Star Football Festival at AT&T Stadium.

BOMBS AWAY WITH ANDY A
- Senior kicker Andy Alkhazshvilly garnered Lone Star Conference Special Teams Player of the Week honors after going 3-for-3 including the game-winning 28-yard field goal for a 16-13 overtime win at Colorado Mesa on Sept. 12.
- Alkhazshvilly connected on field goals of 30, 30 and 28 yards against Colorado Mesa.
- Alkhazshvilly tops NCAA Division II going a perfect 4-for-4 on his field goal attempts including a season-long 31-yarder against Truman State (9/5).
- Alkhazshvilly tops MSU's PAT Kick Percentage career list hitting on 49-of-51 tries for a 96.1 success rate.
- Alkhazshvilly is averaging 63.8 yards on 10 kickoffs with two touchbacks in 2015.

HENTON'S SUCCESS
- Sophomore Mitchell Henton led the Lone Star Conference and ranked 11th in NCAA Division II with an MSU single season record 42.0 yards per punt average as a redshirt freshman in 2014.
- Henton tops MSU's all-time average yards per punt list with a 41.94 average through his first 52 punts.
- Henton is averaging 41.4 yards per punt including one over 50 while forcing three fair catches and placing three inside the 20 in nine punts in 2015.

DOMINATING DOMINIQUE
- Senior Dominique Williams ranks sixth on MSU's all-time punt return yardage list with 317.
- Williams boasts punt returns for touchdowns against McMurry (10/12/13) and Missouri S&T (9/13/14).